Space Kelly - ProfilesArchive

About Me

SPACE KELLY was born on a sunny spring day in the 70ies in Hongkong as Ken Steen, son of a Japanese mother and a German father. ************************************************************ *****After splitting with his rather unsuccessful indie pop band Fluffy Pillows in the mid 90ies, Ken decided to go his own way under the name SPACE KELLY. ************************************************************ *****By now looking back on quite a few albums on various indie labels as well as a couple of independent hit singles SPACE KELLY gained respect from pop lovers from Asia to America. A strange thing you may argue because SPACE KELLY usually sings in German. But there you have it. Pop is a global language. And SPACE KELLY knows that there is more to pop than just writing and singing songs. At his monthly club nights in Berlin he used to welcome musical soulmates from Scotland (Alan McGhee or Duglas T. Stewart & Francis Macdonald/BMX Bandits), Japan (Hideki Kaji), England (Davey Woodward/Brilliant Corners) or German indie greats like Superpunk or Andreas Dorau. ************************************************************ *****In 1996 he debuted with his charming lo-fi 8-track CD Das Leben ist kein Heimspiel (Life Is No Homegame). ************************************************************ *****Erster Alles!, SPACE KELLYs second longplayer was released in 2001 on Apricot Records. It was put out in Japan as - Space Kelly - and proved an initial international underground success. ************************************************************ *****The same year SPACE KELLY was asked to write and produce the official song for Berlins no. 1 ice hockey team EHC Berlin Icebears which stresses his flexibility. ************************************************************ *****In 2002 SPACE KELLY returned with - S.K.F.C. - or in full length: Space Kelly Fanclub (later released in Germany under 3 Ecken 1 Elfer). One part was recorded in Berlin with succesfull German hit-producer Pattino in the legendary Audio Studios (home of Nena and others) featuring the classic Space-Kelly-Five-Line-Up which toured Germany during the last few years. The second part was recorded in Scotland with Pearlfisher David Scott at the controls and Norman Blake and Francis Macdonald of Teenage Fanclub on guitar and drums. Respectively S.K.F.C./3 Ecken 1 Elfer! has taken SPACE KELLY to the next level. ************************************************************ ***** The first single from this album Schluss, Aus und Vorbei! shot right at the number 1 spot in the HMV Japan singles charts in its first week! In summer 2002 SPACE KELLY did his first sold out Japan tour while NHK Japans biggest TV station showed a SPACE KELLY special! A strange thing but there you have it again. Pop is a global language. ************************************************************ ***** Unfortunately in 2005 his Japanese label went bankrupt and left SPACE KELLY with a lot of unpaid royalties. Meanwhile SPACE KELLY started working on various different projects like the Torpedo Boyz (a funky club music project) or the Mukketierbande (country music for children). ************************************************************ ***** In 2006 it was Korean label Happy Robot Records that brought SPACE KELLY back to life. His 2005 recordings of cover versions of his personal favourite 60s and 70s songs was released in Korea in January 2006. A European release of My Favourite Songbook followed a few months later on El Muto Records. ************************************************************ ***** Over the course of his career, SPACE KELLY has honed a lush pop style perfectly suited to his own compositionsbut, as you can hear on My Favourite Songbook, also perfectly suited to handle other songwriters material. Many of the songs on this LP qualify as pop standards: Leaving On A Jet Plane was written by John Denver and popularized by Peter, Paul & Mary; Astrud Gilberto and Tony Bennett both took on Who Can I Turn To; Harpers Bizarre and Claudine Longet made versions of Snow, written by Randy Newman; and the Cheers theme is one of the most familiar tunes in TV history. Elsewhere SPACE KELLY tackles Gilbert OSullivans Clair, Todd Rundgrens Be Nice to Me, Between Us by Beatles spoof band the Rutles, Jonathan Richmans My Love Is A Flower, the Beach Boys Your Summer Dream, and the Zombies The Way I Feel Inside. The result of "My Favourite Songbook"'s musical fusionSPACE KELLY s unique, warm pop sensibility applied to the world-beating songs he loves is a sparkling reminder of why covers were once so popular with audiences and musicians alike. ************************************************************ ***** As mentioned before POP is a global language and SPACE KELLY sure has done his homework...************************************************* ****************discography*****: *09/1994 Prinzessin Millionenschoen (Tape, Sumpfloch) *09/1995 Das Leben Ist Kein Heimspiel (CD, Freistil Tontraeger) *09/1995 NAbend allerseits (7, Freistil Tontraeger) *04/1997 Ich moechte die weiblichen Fans von Take That (7, Sumpfloch) *10/1999 "Die schoensten Maedchen gibt es in Amsterdam" (7", El Muto/Lounge Records) *05/2000 "September Maedchen" (CD-M & 7, Syft Records, Japan) *05/2000 Die schoensten Maedchen gibt es in Amsterdam"(CD-M, El Muto/Lounge Records) *08/2000 Space Kelly (CD & LP, Syft Records, Japan) *03/2001 Wolle Kleff: Hes dope ass in Amsterdam (Capsule Remix) (12, Lounge Records) *05/2001 Erster Alles (CD & LP, apricot records) *08/2001 Der EHC ist wieder da! (CD-M & 7, space kelly productions / el muto) *02/2002 Schluss, Aus und Vorbei! (CD-M & 7, Syft Records, Japan) *03/2002 World Cup Fieber (Split 7, Escalator, Japan) *04/2002 S.K.F.C. (CD & LP, Syft Records, Japan) *04/2002 Schluss, Aus und Vorbei (Piano Version) (Tower Records Bonus 3 CD) *07/2002 Das Leben ist kein Heimspiel (10-Re-Release, El Muto / Lounge) *12/2002 Schnee (CD-M & 7, Syft Records, Japan) *08/2003 3 Ecken 1 Elfer (CD, El Muto Records, Germany) *01/2006 My Favourite Songbook (CD, Happy Robot Records, Korea) *04/2006 My Favourite Songbook (CD, El Muto Records, Germany)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/10/2006
Band Website: space-kelly.de
Band Members: The last live line-up of SPACE KELLY featured: Space Kelly (vocals & guitar), Rene Bosem (vocals & guitar), Christopher Robinson (vocals & bass), Erk Wiemer (vocals & keyboards) & Sven "Uschi" Kuester (drums) - on the recordings of "My Favourite Songbook" Sven Kuester was replaced by Martin Hoffmann.
Influences: American Spring, Another Sunny Day, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ash, The Association, Astrud Gilberto, B.J.Thomas, The Beach Boys, Ben Folds, Bernd Begemann, Bert Kaempfert, Big Star, Billy Bragg, The BMX Bandits, The Box Tops, Boyracer, Brighter, The Brilliant Corners, Burt Bacharach, The Byrds, Camper Van Beethoven, The Cardiacs, The Charlatans, Chris Montez, Claudine Longet, Cole Porter, Colin Bluntstone, The Cyrkle, The Daintees, Dan Fogelberg, Dennis Wilson, Die Antwort, Eggstone, Felt, The Field Mice, Flippers Guitar, The Frank & Walters, Frank Sinatra, Free Design, Freewheel, Die Fuenf Freunde, G. Love & Special Sauce, Galaxie 500, Gene, Gilbert OSullivan, The Go Betweens, Hall & Oates, Happy Mondays, Harpers Bizarre, Harry Nilsson, The Hit Parade, The Hollies, The House Of Love, The Housemartins, Idaho, The Inspiral Carpets, James Taylor, The Jasmine Minks, The Jazz Butcher, Jim Croce, Jim Jiminee, Jimmy Webb, Joao Gilberto, John Lennon, Jonathan Richman, Kenny Rankin, The Las, The Lemonheads, The Lettermen, Lightning Seeds, The Lilac Time, Lloyd Cole & The Commotions, Lou Reed, The Marmalade, Martin Denny, Martin Stephenson, McCarthy, Mega City Four, Michael Franks, The Modern Lovers, The Monkees, Moose, Nick DeCaro, Nick Drake, The Orchids, The Pale Saints, Papas Fritas, Paul Williams, Pavement, The Pearlfishers, The Pooh Sticks, Prefab Sprout, The Primal Scream (the early stuff onyl), Randy Newman, The Red House Painters, Richard Harris, Ride, Roger Nichols, The Rutles, Scott Walker, Scritti Politti, The Sea & Cake, The Sea Urchins, Sergio Mendes, Simon & Garfunkel, The Small Faces, Steely Dan, The Stone Roses, Super Furry Animals, Superstar, The Sweetest Ache, Teenage Fanclub, They Might Be Giants, Throw That Beat!, Todd Rundgren, Trini Lopez, The Turtles, Unrest, Vic Chesnut, The Violent Femmes, The Weather Prophets, The Wedding Present, Woody Guthrie, The Zombies.
Sounds Like: Acid House Kings, Adam Green, Badly Drawn Boy, The Beach Boys, The Beautiful South, Belle & Sebastian, Bernd Begemann, The BMX Bandits, The Boo Radleys, The Boy Hairdresser, Bright Eyes, Brighter, Burt Bacharach, The Cardigans, Cinerama, Club 8, Cosmic Rough Riders, Eggstone, Erk, The Field Mice, Freewheel, Gilbert OSullivan, The Go Betweens, Hal, Harvey Williams, High Llamas, The Hit Parade, The Housemartins, James Kirk, John Mayer, Jonathan Richman, Kante, Kettcar, Kings Of Convenience, The Las, The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group, The Lightning Seeds, The Lilac Time, Lloyd Cole, The Magic Numbers, Malcolm Ross, Michael Shelley, Modesty Blaise, Montgolfier Brothers, The Mopeds, Mull Historical Society, Nice Man, Olivia Tremor Control, The Orchids, The Pale Fountains, Papas Fritas, The Pastels, The Pearlfishers, The Pernice Brothers, The Pooh Sticks, Popsicle, Prefab Sprout, Ralley, Rooney, Secret Goldfish, Spearmint, The Stars, Stephen Duffy, Subterfuge, Sugargliders, Supernaturals, Tahiti 80, Teenage Fanclub, The Thrills, Tomte, Travis, The Wannadies, The Wedding Present.
Record Label: El Muto Records (www.el-muto.com)
Type of Label: Indie